AREA BUDGET MEETING UPDATE

​By Colm Croffy

There were the usual swings and roundabouts at the MDC annual Budgetary meeting.

What was of course not up for any discussion was the rationale behind the Ballinasloe MDC's areas increase of €263,559 compared to Tuam’s nearly €500,000 and Loughrea’s €1 million?

This estimate is not just for town; it is for the MDC area of some 26,000 citizens, towns of Mountbellew, Ballygar and all the villages from Lawrencetown to Ballyforan, which is a lot of roads, paving and lighting.

The €200,000 notice of motion money that some five out of the six councillors can use each year, thanks in part to the increase in the property tax, is not included in the €10.1 million allocation to the MDC.

Biggest percentage gains at the October meeting were a whopping from €6,000 to €187,531 for Economic Development and Promotion at 2155%, but not as much as Loughrea who will be spending €223,000 on this area!
At 90%, the contribution to other bodies is up from €9,600 to €18,260.

Gladly there might be some relief from the Pampas Grassland effects of No Mow May extending right through till September for residents of estates, as a 20% increase in the Estates Maintenance from €36,928 to €44,352.

Heritage Services has grown by 82% from €16,000 to €29,100, but seemingly this does not include any expense on the Aughrim Centre as that is being covered by Just Transition Funding.

Bring Centres are up 34% and Parks, Pitches and Open Spaces are also up 35% from €76,950 to €103,620.
Strangely the budget sections that had zero change is the cost of the parking meters in all pay zones, even though the officials refuse to give a breakdown on which streets or machines are showing revenue at €25,000.

Maddeningly, when all, including the Tidy Towns Judges, have pointed out the deficiencies in street cleaning, not another new cent could be found at €297,790 for the year ahead.

Maintenance of Burial Grounds is also maintained at last year’s rate of €103,620.

The overall roads programme, which in all its entirety gobbles up some 60% of the €10.1 million, saw a 3% increase which had most of the area Councillors up in arms.

With near unanimity, all were aghast that with building and input prices rising faster than regular inflation, this will allow much more reduced repair and essential maintenance to roads, paths and hedges for the coming year.

Cllr. Declan Geraghty stated he was “taken aback that we only have an increase of €131,000, a deplorable situation given the cost of materials has gone through the roof and will make it very difficult for the Area Engineers and outdoor staff to achieve their program.”
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The other significant decrease in expenditure coming in at about 14% was Recycling down from €15,000 to €12,857, possibly reflecting the Government’s new cash for trash recycling scheme for cans and bottles.